The first one was spotted some time ago at a multi-storey car park in Jurong West St 93. The second photo was taken last week at the multi-storey car park in Shunfu market/food centre.
PS – Perhaps I should ask Peter, the old cars, old buildings, old streets and in fact, old everything. expert to give chance a bit and let the others have a go first
Here are a couple more photos. Sorry the Alpha photo is out of focus. Apparently my handphone camera only good for close range shots. - 22 July 2008
13 comments:
suzuki and alfa romeo. don't know the model names though.
fiat and alfa romeo. give peter a chance, lah. why associate him with all things ancient?
No lah, I am just saying that the expert should come in at the end. Anyway, I only associate all things ancient with a name like loa kok kok.
Tom said...
I think the car in the black and white photo is a Fiat ? the other car I dont no.
Since Chun See didn't ban me, I can participate. Anyway I am not that old and am putting in a late no. 5 comment, i.e. already given enough chance for others to try first. :p
The 1st car is a 100% Suzuki 800 (because it's engine cap is 800 cc). It was marketed here in the 1980s. My colleague had a rust-brown coloured one. I guess he chose that colour so that any rust developing on the car body won't be obvious. He complained that the car always stalled because a certain fuse was prone to blowing. Whenever it happened, the car couldn't even be "pushed started".
Like what Coleman said, 2nd car looks like an Alfa because of the twin headlamps and the badge shape at the front but I also don't know what's the model.
Coleman is good man. I also could not recognise the first one was Suzuke until I looked at the brand tag. As for the second one, my ex-biz partner used to drive one that looked like this one; also red in colour. That was in the late eighties to early 90's. I seem to recall its name is something like Spider.
OK now I come into the picture. the last phot, red car is an Alfa Romeo GTV. It is also called Alfa Romeo GTA. usually 2 liter with twin-cab which gives a low purring sound (vvroom...vvroom....). Popular between 1969 and 1975. Alfa Spider is carbriolet version and not the same. Alfa and Fiat popular sports car in late 1960s and early 1970s.
At first I thought first picture was a FIAT 125 T or FIAT 125 Special T, a 1400cc car. It could have been a Skoda because the Czech company bought the FIAT engine. Suzuki surprises me.
If u like to see cars like this rebuilt like Jaguar MKII, I can show u a workshop in KG. UBI Industrial Estate. Ah Seng is rebuilding even a LOTUS Super 7 and one Lotus Elan.
Share with you an interesting thing about my ex-colleague's Alpha. Apparently its turning radius is quite big for such a small car. Once he and I both drove our cars to a client's place are Tai Seng area. On the way back we made a U-turn at the traffic lights at Airport Rd. My 1990 Toyota Corrola managed the turn with no problem. But my colleague had to do a 3-point turn.
I drove my cousin's Alpha Romeo and it drinks like TIGER - 18 miles per gallon without aircon what's that in litres???). One full tank in those days cost S$40/-. I cant imagine if someone drives that today but in those days it made its name because Albert Poon drove one at the Singapore Grand Prix at Thomson Road Circuit. Those were the days of Alfa, OPEL Kadett, Ford Cortina, Ford Escort, and Mini Cooper "S".
Alpha is a car with character and not suitable for most 'normal' drivers. My partner took pride in being a very 'hands-on' guy becos his Alpha always gave technical problems.
Anyway, my personal speed record was 160 kph on another Alpha that he bought later. We were on the way to Genting Highlands Resort to conduct some trg for a Msia client. I took it to 160 for a minute or so just for the thrill of it. But Msian drivers regularly go at that kind of speed - even on Proton Kanchil
When you own an Alfa, it's like getting a second woman in your life. You must treat her better than your wife. The car is very "problematic" because it requires close supervision or else you are hit with big bills. One example is the engine idling speed - it is always off and you need to tune up. The reason - because after a quick spin, the twin carb is not synchronised. the other problem is the aircon - when you race with a/c, the engine idling speed "runs". The other is the gas manifold - always leaks.
If you dont tune-up, you end up with a petrol guzzler.
When jalan Toa Payoh was first opened in 1969 or 1970, many people race down the highway because it was a straight road. Speeds of 120 miles per hour was possible. At that time people were not afraid of police cars but only traffic cop because they use the 550cc Kawasaki motor-bikes which could out-run the Alfa. Earlier the traffic police were using the Norton 650cc bikes; made a lot of noise but got no speed.
The 1st car is is the Suzuki 800 5door,with rear glass hatch(known as Fronte in Japan with 550cc engine)
The second is Alfa Romeo 2000GT Veloce(105,later 115 series),designed by Giugiaro who got sub-contracted from Bertone,it had In-line 4 DOHC 2 Weber carbruettors producing 132bhp.
1. Suzuki 800
2. Alfa Romeo Gulia
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